A potential wintry weather system is a threatening the Chicago area this weekend.
Two weather systems, still out in the Pacific, are to combine to create a deepening early winter storm system likely to bring Chicago wind driven rains of some substance. Just who gets snow with this system will, as it always does, depend on the precise track of this storm–and we’re still days away. So care must be taken to emphasize there are still variables yet to be reconciled.
But here’s what I can tell you from what we’re seeing at this point:
1. This system will have plenty of moisture to work with. Water equivalent precip tallies could reach into the 2-3″ range here in Chicago–which is really something when you consider we’re in the midst of the driest Nov 26 through Dec 9th period on the books here in 150 years. There’s been no measurable precip in all that time–just spits of snow and drizzle. A heavy, wind driven rain would mark a huge pattern reversal for us.
2. Models continue to put the focus for snow on areas north and west of Chicago proper–favoring at the moment northwest and western sections of the Chicago area that’s hardly the final word on this system and is subject to revisement.
3. It doesn’t mean Chicago will be completely snow free. But it appears cold, wind-driven rain is to reach the city late Friday or Friday night—rain that may well begin mixing with then changing to snow in areas north and west of Chicago Saturday–with a transition to snow in the city a good bet Sat night after possibly going through a “wintry mix” period in Chicago sometime Saturday afternoon
3. Too early for precise numbers of snowfall--If you’re seeing maps elsewhere–on social media or on air somewhere laying out accumulation numbers, please know that any we don’t even have the atmospheric features features likely to create this storm on shore out West from the Pacific. History and experience has shown that to really be confident in any snow numbers, you really like to get complex storm systems like this into the land-based weather balloon network where they can be more thoroughly measured. Communicating precise numbers at this early stage of development is in many ways a fools errand. I know. I’ve been burned by similar systems in the past. It pays to take it more slowly and not go out with specific snow numbers 3 days ahead of a storm’s arrival. Too much can change.
4. As always, the track followed will be critical in deciding who get the snow and how much. Stay tuned!
5. The “NE” winds with the storm are likely to be formidable beginning Friday night and continuing into Saturday night gusting to 40 mph and setting up a potential for lakeshore flooding and a pounding by large waves. Powerful backside “NW” winds are to deliver some COLD AIR as final snows wind down Sunday morning.
For the latest weather updates, go to wgnv.com/weather.
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December 09, 2020 at 11:48PM
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Potential for winter weather this weekend starts with rain Friday - WGN TV Chicago
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